Sprinkler alarm device.



No. 829,796. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

W. GZLME'DDINGS.

SPRINKLER ALARM DEVICE.

APPLICATION ITILE'D FEB. 12, 190B.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GEORGE MEDDINGS, OF REMUERA, NEAR AUCKLAND,

' NET/V ZEALAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

Application filed February 12, 1906- Serial No. 300,709-

To all whowt it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GEORGE MEI)- DINGS, inspector of New Zealandtelegraphs, a subject of His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom ofGreat Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Remuera, near the city ofAuckland, in the Provincial District of Auckland and Colony of NewZealand, have invented a Sprinkler Alarm Device, of which the followingis a specification. The purpose of this invention is to create a recordand give a signal whenever sprinklers fitted for extinguishing fires arebroken and caused to act. This result is obtained by fitting aninsulated wire partly exposed to the pipe or pipes to which thesprlnklers are attached, which is connected to a battery and recordinginstrument or instruments in the manner hereunder described.

The accompanying drawings show two figures, of which- Figure 1 is anelevation showing a pipe with three sprinklers attached thereto and aninsulated wire fitted to the pipe; and Fig. 2 is an end view showingclosed end of pipe, one sprinkler, and one end of insulated wire.

The pipe A represents a water-pipe fixed, preferably, to the ceiling ofa room of a buildmg or to the inside of the roof of the building. Thesprinklers B are attached in the usual way to the pipe or pipes A andare made ready to operate as fire-extinguishers on sufficient heatreaching and acting on them.

The insulated wire C is fitted to the pipe or pi es A by wippings of anysuitable material (s own at H) in any suitable manner and so that wherethe wire C is carried round or beneath the sprinklers B the insulationis removed. This removal leaves the wire bare and exposed, so that onany one of the sprinklers B being broken or opened the water rushingfrom the sprinkler B will play on the exposed part of the wire C, andthereby establish an electrical circuit between the wire C and the pipeor pipes A. One end E of the insulated wire 0 is sealed and leftdisconnected at the end D of the pipe A, while the other end F of thewire is carried to any convenient position where it can be connected tothe necessary battery or apparatus. Another wire G is electricallyconnected to the pipe A,

from which the insulated material is removedcan be covered with any thinmaterial perviwith the pipes.

When the electric circuit before-referred to is established between thewire 0 and the pipe or pipes A by means of the water issuing therefrom,the record-signal will be made and give the alarm by ringing a bell inthe usual way or by any other electrical means which may be desired.

The great advantage of this device is its perfectly instantaneousaction, whereby the opening of a sprinkler is made known whether causedby fire or otherwise. If from other cause than fire, the breakage can berectified and the consequent spoiling of goods by the downpour of waterbe forthwith prevented.

Though three sprinklers are described and shown, one or any number canbe used, if so desired.

I claim 1. In combination with a water-pipe, battery-wires, one of whichis in electrical connection with the pipe and the other of which isinsulated therefrom, said latter wire having exposed portions locateddirectly under normally closed discharge orifices in said pipe.

2. Electrical apparatus for instantly recording the actuation ofautomatic fire-extinguishing apparatus comprising in combination with awater-pipe provided with a series of sprinklers, battery-wires, one ofwhich is electrically connected with said pipe and the other of which isinsulated therefrom, said latter wire having exposed portions locateddirectly under said sprinklers.

WILLIAM GEORGE MEDDINGS.

ous to water, so as to save accidental contact

